Baby's Arrival On New Year's Eve Is 'An Incredible Gift', Toms River Mom Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — For years, New Year's hasn't been a holiday to celebrate for Caitlyn Cherry.

The 30-year-old from Toms River had avoided the holiday; this year, she planned to spend New Year's Eve day working. That was until she found herself in the maternity unit at Community Medical Center in Toms River, in labor.

Savannah Marie made her appearance at 11:25 p.m. Friday, the last baby born at Community Medical Center in 2021. She arrived on the 15th anniversary of the death of Caitlyn's mother, Jeanne.

"It's an incredible gift that she was born on New Year's Eve," Caitlyn said Saturday from her room at the hospital. "It's a blessing."

Savannah wasn't due to be born for a few more weeks, Caitlyn said. She was due on Jan. 20, but because her obstetrician was concerned about the level of amniotic fluid, they had planned to induce labor on Jan. 14, she said.

The induction was moved up to Thursday night when her weekly checkup showed the amniotic fluid level had fallen significantly, Caitlyn said. It took more than 24 hours for her labor to progress.

When the doctor administered the epidural, Caitlyn was told that when she felt pressure, it would be time to push to deliver the baby. But Caitlyn said she never really felt intense pressure.

With less than an hour before the ball dropped in Times Square, Caitlyn said she felt mild pressure, so they checked to see how much progress had been made.

"We see her hair, she's coming," said Caitlyn, who had a doula with her to help her during the labor. After just 10 minutes of pushing, Savannah was born.

The 6-pound, 18½-inch girl carries her grandmother's middle name, Caitlyn said. She also carries the hopes for a close relationship like the one Caitlyn shared with her mother.

Losing Jeanne was devastating, Caitlyn said. She was diagnosed with cancer in October 2006 and by the time it was diagnosed, it was very advanced. Jeanne died on New Year's Eve, leaving behind Caitlyn, three sons and her husband, Ron. She was 48 years old.

"She was my best friend," said Caitlyn, who was 15 at the time.

Caitlyn, who is a residential counselor and an assistant manager at Preferred Behavioral Health, said the current hospital visitation restrictions because of the pandemic have limited how many people could be with her at the hospital. A close friend and the doula were her labor supports, but her family has not yet met Savannah.

"My dad is so excited to meet her," said Caitlyn, who said she knew she was having a girl from the time she was 12 weeks pregnant. "He has been my rock through all of this."

On Saturday, however, she was content with the visitation restrictions, happy to have one-on-one bonding time with Savannah.

"If she had waited half an hour she would have been born on New Year's" Caitlyn said. "But it's a blessing she arrived on New Year's."

"It's an incredible gift," she said.

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